Situated in northeast Italy, Venice is a group of 118 small islands separated by canals and linked by bridges – making it easy to understand why it’s developed numerous titles, including “The Floating City” and “City of Bridges.”

Writer Jenna Blumenfeld offers perspective on why expert and novice surfers alike make the pilgrimage to Raglan to surf at Manu Bay (made famous in the 1966 surf film, “Endless Summer”) and Ngarunui Beach, a seemingly endless stretch of sand.